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Christmas Markets & Events in London, 2019

The festive season is fast approaching & Christmas markets, events & festivals are already starting to spring up along the banks of the River Thames. This year will see a few regular events return including the Southbank Centre Winter Festival & ice rinks at the Tower of London & Somerset House. There are also a number of new events including an ice rink at the Queens House.

See Christmas London from the River Thames

Below we have highlighted a few of our favourite events this Christmas including markets &, performances & New Year’s Eve Cruises. Each event is within walking distance from one of our piers. Why not join us for a one-way river cruise & see the Illuminated River & other illuminated London landmarks before disembarking to visit a Christmas Market.

Christmas Markets in London

1. Guildhall Christmas Market

This market takes place at Guildhall, a Medieval building completed in 1440 & home to the City of London Corporation. The Guildhall Market will feature over 100 retailers offering a range of festive food & drink. There’s also a fashion show, live music & a silent auction.

The Guildhall Christmas Market Grand Opening takes place on Monday 25th November. Tickets for the Grand Opening are £40.00 per person however Tuesday 26th November is an all day market & tickets are just £5.00.

Monday 25th November 2019 & Tuesday 26th November 2019

Monday: 17:30-21:00, Tuesday: 10:30-20:00

Walking Distance  16 Min / 0.7 Miles from Bankside Pier

Walking Distance  24 Min / 1.2 Miles from St. Katharine Pier

2. Southbank Centre Winter Festival

Southbank Centre Winter Market, Winter Food Huts
Southbank Centre Winter Market, Wardfabrik
Southbank Centre Winter Market, Humble Crumble London
Southbank Centre Winter Market, Winter Food Huts
Southbank Centre Winter Market, Wardfabrik
Southbank Centre Winter Market, Humble Crumble London

The Southbank Centre Winter Festival returns on Friday 8th November 2019 for more than eight weeks of Festive fun. As well as the regular Southbank Centre Food Market the Winter Market will be opening on the embankment next to Festival Pier & Waterloo Bridge. The market has a range of delicacies including fish & chips from Jimmy’s Pop Up Lodge & Alpine Restaurant, delicious crumbles from Humble Crumble London & a range of other foods including oysters & burgers. You’ll also find pop up bars serving hot drinks, mulled wine, mulled cider, Champagne & cocktails.

As well as the Winter Market there’s also a pop-up cinema screening a number of festive & family favourites & a range of events at Royal Festival Hall & the Royal National Theatre.

Friday 8th November 2019 – Sunday 5th January 2020

Sunday-Thursday: 11:00-22:00, Friday-Saturday: 11:00-23:00

Walking Distance  0 Min / 100 Feet from Festival Pier

Walking Distance  13 Min / 0.7 Miles from Westminster Pier

3. Greenwich Market: Christmas Lights On & Lantern Parade

Greenwich Market, Royal Borough of Greenwich
Greenwich Market, Royal Borough of Greenwich

On Wednesday 20th November Greenwich Market will be switching on their Christmas lights with the annual Lantern Parade. The parade will leave the Visitor Centre at the Old Royal Naval College at 16:00 before heading round the Cutty Sark & into Greenwich Market. After the switch on there will be live performances from the Angelina Jandolo Dance Showcase and Greenwich Stagecoach singers.

4. Christmas By The River

Hay's Galleria, London Bridge City
Hay's Galleria, London Bridge City

On Tuesday 26th November 2019 Christmas By The River returns to More London Riverside & Hay’s Galleria. This regular Christmas market has spectacular views across the river of the Tower of London, Tower Bridge & HMS Belfast. Over 60 traders will be serving a range of festive treats.

Tuesday 26th November 2019 – Sunday 5th January 2020

Walking Distance  9 Min / 0.5 Miles from St. Katharine Pier

5. Queens House Ice Rink

aThe Queens House, Royal Borough of Greenwich
aThe Queens House, Royal Borough of Greenwich

A new ice rink will be opening at the Queens House on the 29th November. As well as ice skating there will also be market stalls serving mulled wine, tea coffee & winter snacks.

Walking Distance  7 Min / 0.3 Miles from Greenwich Pier (Maritime Greenwich & Cutty Sark)

29th November 2019 – 12th January 2020

10:00 – 20:00

6. Tower of London Icerink

Tower of London
Tower of London

The popular Tower of London Ice Rink returns to the moat this winter & will be open from the 16th November 2019 – 5th January 2020. As well as ice skating there will also be the Ice Rink Cafe & Bar serving a range of drinks & snacks.

Walking Distance  6 Min / 0.3 Miles from St. Katharine Pier

16th November 2019 – 5th January 2020

7. Tower of London Twilight Tours

Visit the Tower of London after dark & join a Yeoman Warder tour of the historic palace & fortress. Explore famous locations including the Traitors Gate, the Scaffold Site & pass the Bloody Tower while you hear tales of the prisoners who lived & died in the Tower of London.

Walking Distance  6 Min / 0.3 Miles from St. Katharine Pier

Select Sundays from November 2019 – April 2020

8. Tower of London Victorian Christmas

Visit the Tower of London after dark & join a Yeoman Warder tour of the historic palace & fortress. Explore famous locations including the Traitors Gate, the Scaffold Site & pass the Bloody Tower while you hear tales of the prisoners who lived & died in the Tower of London.

Walking Distance  6 Min / 0.3 Miles from St. Katharine Pier

Select Sundays from November 2019 – April 2020

9. A Christmas Carol at the Greenwich Theatre

Visit the Tower of London after dark & join a Yeoman Warder tour of the historic palace & fortress. Explore famous locations including the Traitors Gate, the Scaffold Site & pass the Bloody Tower while you hear tales of the prisoners who lived & died in the Tower of London.

Walking Distance  6 Min / 0.3 Miles from St. Katharine Pier

Select Sundays from November 2019 – April 2020

A visit to London isn’t complete without a cruise on the River Thames. Thames River Sightseeing operate regular services from six piers on the River Thames including Westminster Pier, Embankment Pier, Tower Bridge Quay (St. Katharine Pier) & Greenwich Pier. Thames River Sightseeing cruise 361 days a year & operate a fleet of all-weather vessels with spacious open decks perfect for the summer months & heated saloons with panoramic windows for the colder months. The vessels range from more traditional River Thames passenger boats (London Rose) to more modern vessels purposefully built for the River Thames (Thomas Doggett). A cruise between Westminster & Tower Bridge Quay takes just 30-40 minutes & passes numerous London landmarks including the New Palace of Westminster (Houses of Parliament), the London Eye, the Tower of London, Tower Bridge, the Shard, London Bridge & Tower Bridge.

Passengers can embark at Westminster Pier, Embankment Pier, Festival Pier, Bankside Pier, Tower Bridge Quay or Greenwich & take advantage of a range of ticketing options. Single tickets are suited for day trippers or passengers travelling in or out of London & return tickets allow passengers to disembark & explore before joining a return sailing later the same day. A 2 Day River Pass is the perfect option for anyone visiting London over multiple days. A River Pass allows unlimited travel on our services for just £21.00 per adult, a family River Pass is just £42.00 (for 2 Adults + 3 Children).

Thames River Sightseeing also offer excellent group rates & discounts which are perfect for families, tour companies or travel trade. Toilet facilities & a Multilingual Audio Guide are available on all sailings. The Multilingual Audio Guide is an informative commentary available through our onboard Wi-Fi in English, French, German, Italian, Spanish or Mandarin (Smart device & headphones are not provided, Read More).

Destinations

Westminster Pier is located on the North shore of the River Thames in the City of Westminster. The pier is a short walk from the Palace of Westminster (Houses of Parliament), Westminster Abbey & St. Margaret’s Church (A UNESCO World Heritage Site). Numerous museums & landmarks are within walking distance of Westminster Pier including the Banqueting House, Household Cavalry Museum, the National Gallery & the London Eye.

St. Katharine Dock was constructed by Thomas Telford & opened in 1828. The docks became popular with expensive cargo’s from around the world including ivory, shells, sugar, marble, wines, fragrant spices & perfumes. Today St. Katharine’s is a haven for yachts & historic vessels including traditional Thames sailing barges. A wide range of cafes, bars & restaurants are located at St. Katharine’s & regular food markets also take place throughout the week.

Greenwich Pier is located on the South shore of the River Thames in Maritime Greenwich, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The pier sits between the famous tea clipper Cutty Sark & Sir Christopher Wren’s Riverside Masterpiece, the Old Royal Naval College. Today the Royal Borough of Greenwich is an eclectic mix of historical & modern buildings. Greenwich town centre is home to a collection of museums, pubs, restaurants, markets & shops.

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